Alex Honnold later tweeted that he was "so stoked to realize a dream today" after scaling the 3,000-foot granite wall

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This Saturday, June 3, 2017, photo provided by National Geographic shows Alex Honnold atop El Capitan in Yosemite National Park, Calif., after he became the first person to climb alone to the top of the massive granite wall without ropes or safety gear. National Geographic recorded Honnold's historic ascent, saying the 31-year-old completed the "free solo" climb Saturday in nearly four hours. The event was documented for an upcoming National Geographic feature film and magazine story.

An elite rock climber became the first to climb alone to the top of the massive granite wall known as El Capitan in Yosemite National Park without using ropes or safety gear.

Alex Honnold completed the "free solo" climb Saturday in nearly four hours, according to National Geographic, which documented the historic ascent. A photo posted on the magazine's website shows the grinning 31-year-old wearing just a pair of black pants after reaching the summit.

Honnold later tweeted that he was "so stoked to realize a dream today" after scaling the 3,000-foot granite wall.

The experience climber said in a telephone interview Sunday with The Associated Press that he'd been dreaming about the feat since 2009 but started working on doing it two years ago. He's been climbing for 20 years but says "each year I would show up and it would seem just much too daunting."

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Honnold says he rehearsed the route many times while climbing with protective gear and memorized each hole he had to grab and the way to position his body until he felt comfortable enough to attempt the climb.

Observers said his feat has pushed the limits in a sport that requires a high level of athleticism, risk-taking and mental focus.

"This has never been done before ... and it's hard to imagine anybody ever coming close to what he's done," said Daniel Duane, author of "El Capitan: Historic Feats and Radical Routes." "He is totally alone at the top of his game."

The climb up El Capitan used to take days to complete with the aid of ropes, safety gear and a partner.

In the past few decades, speed climbers working in tandem and using ropes have set records in reaching the top of the steep cliff.

In January 2015, Tommy Caldwell and Kevin Jorgeson became the first to "free climb" the Dawn Wall — a particularly steep route to the top of El Capitan — by grabbing just the rock and using ropes only to catch them if they fell. They did it in 19 days.

Honnold is first to climb the iconic rock alone without protection in mere hours.

"To climb without ropes where the slightest slip is literally fatal in that arena requires enormous self-control and focus," Duane said. "It requires this intense cognitive effort to keep fear at bay and focus on the task in front of you.''

He said Honnold has a rare ability to control fear and his body for a long period of time.